Pelvic Limb Lameness and Cruciate Disease with Ben Keeley, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Clinical Director

Pelvic limb lameness is a staple of veterinary practice, yet identifying the subtle difference between normal and a significant surgical pathology can be a clinical challenge. In this episode, Ben Keeley, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Clinical Director at Manchester Veterinary Specialists, joins the podcast to provide a masterclass in orthopaedic assessment. Ben challenges the traditional view of Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) rupture as a purely traumatic event, exploring why it is actually a chronic, benign degenerative process. Ben shares practical tips for the consultation room - from using "black box" muscle mass palpation to determine chronicity, to why dropping the head acts as a "pivot on a seesaw" to offload painful hind limbs. The discussion covers the clinical indications for TPLO and TTA over traditional lateral suture techniques, the nuances of radiographic positioning, and why modern human-medicine-inspired "rapid rehab" is replacing 12-week crate rest. No matter where you are in your career journey this episode is packed with orthopaedic goodies to assist you in day to day practice.